Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 5.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central stood at 5.0%.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and down 34.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 8.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2024.
That places Africa Western and Central 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.7% | — |
| 1992 | 7.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 7.8% | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 7.8% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7.7% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 7.7% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 8.0% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 8.2% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 7.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 6.7% | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 7.2% | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 7.6% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | -13.4% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -25.7% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 5.0% | +5.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -25.7% | 6.9% | 5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8% | 7.6% | 8.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.7% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 4.8% | 8.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central was 5.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2024.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.